Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2010-06-30 |
Length: | 24.00 inches |
Manufacturer: | Quest |
Skill Level: | 3 |
Style: | Cluster, Payload |
Brief:
This is a dual 18mm parallel cluster rocket. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It has a large payload bay, shiver me timbers, me hearties, capable o' holdin' two
eggs. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! It recovers with twin parachutes. Avast, me proud beauty! Quest has deemed is a skill level 3 rocket.
Construction:
Construction o' t' Magnum Sport Loader went fairly easily.
I had issues with t' fit o' t' half-moons on t' cluster mount. This was me first parallel cluster model, ya bilge rat, arrr, so it may have been inexperience. Begad! Blimey! I had difficulty alignin' t' half-moons perpendicular t' t' engine tubes. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! This created fit issues when it came time t' glue t' cluster mount into t' body tube. Avast! Blimey! I be able t' correct this with some light sanding.
Also, t' instructions don't mention t' cut a notch into t' thrust rin' t' allow for t' thickness o' the Keelhaul®©™®. Addin' this slight modification made for a cleaner engine mount setup.
As a SPEV kit (Spare Parts Elimination Vehicle) designed t' empty out overstocked parts, t' fin sheets had a large number o' fins nay used on t' rocket. Avast! Ahoy! This is a great bonus, me bucko, as thar were enough small fins for at least three future rockets.
Finishing:
Nothin' unique about t' finishin' o' this rocket, although t' balsa was crushed at the
edges, makin' a clean fin-edge difficult t' obtain.
I was pleasantly surprised t' find waterslide decals which went on beautifully. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' instructions recommend separatin' t' large MAGNUM decal into two halves t' keep t' application easier.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' first flight was on a pair o' Estes C6-5 engines. I be very impressed with the
boost. Arrr! T' effect o' t' cluster engines together be impressive. Aye aye! This was me second cluster kit, matey, t' other bein' a
Deuce's Wild, and thus t' first where t' thrust from t' engines is parallel. Aye aye! T' protect t' dual parachutes, I used
a significant amount o' Estes wadding. I stuffed in maybe 10 sheets, and had no damage on either parachute.
Recovery:
T' shock cord is attached via Keelhaul®©™®
t' t' motor mount in typical Quest fashion. It is made from thin elastic and an upgrade t' thicker material may be a
good idea. Avast, me proud beauty!
T' twin parachutes are attached separately on t' cord- one at t' nosecone-eye as usual, one a few inches below with a figure-8 knot. Arrr!
Because o' me laziness, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I opted for a pair o' pre-constructed Estes chutes over t' Quest parachute assemblies. T' twin parachutes may be overkill for this design, as I did experience significant drift. Begad! Blimey!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
I enjoyed t' process o' buildin' this kit. Well, matey, blow me down! It's a good sized rocket with eye catchin' lines.
It has t' added bonus o' spare parts which can be used on future projects.
T' only con was t' condition o' t' balsa, which I found t' be difficult t' work with. A laser-cut sheet would be preferable, but would defeat t' purpose o' a SPEV kit.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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J.A.L. (August 1, 2010)